Call Me Cleopatra

It's been so hot in Seattle lately, we might as well be in Egypt:






I hope you're all managing to stay cool while looking fab like this jet-setter!

*swoon*
Paige

Photography by Sebastien Richard

My Newest Crush

I found this photo and my jaw dropped.
I totally crushing on this dress (sorry, Boyfriend):

Calle Stoltz

Seriously, I love it. The color, the way the wide hem floats away from the body, the waistline, the little pleated/ruffly detailing at the top... it's all so perfect in my opinion. But of course, such perfection is impossible to track down or replicate. I tried my very best but I could only come up with these (still) cute options.


Some are obviously very different, but they all capture characteristics of the above dress. If you were to combine all of these together, you would get my major dress crush of the moment.

If anyone does know who the dress is by, please let me know! My guess is that it's way out of my price range, but it would still be wonderful to find out at least a little information about it.

*swoon*
Paige

1. Dorothy Perkins Flutter Scoop Neck Dress
2. Halston Silk Shirt Dress via Net-A-Porter
3. Coral Tie Back Tunic
4. Orange Belted Dress via Browns Fashion
5. Origami Pleat Detail Dress
6. Satin Folded Dress via Karen Millen

Photographer - Leah Makin

No fashion here today, folks, only wooly sheep!


I thought this diptych was absolutely beautiful so I had to include it here (but it also echoes the materials used to make certain kinds of clothing!). Photograph Leah Makin has so many other fantastic fashion photographs, I would highly recommend checking her out.

*swoon*
Paige

PetOrly PetOrly - Dolls

A little creepy in a few shots, but how could I not share this hair! Click on the photo or the link below for the full collection.

PetOrly PetOrly

*swoon*
Paige

Glitter & Lace

I wish I could just lounge around my apartment all day with all the windows open, writing diary entries and love letters, and, of course, wearing cute lingerie:






This muggy Seattle "heat wave" definitely calls for it.

*swoon*
Paige

Photography by Tommaso Nervegna

Entrapment

Help! I'm going to be trapped inside today, unable to enjoy the beautiful, nearly 80-degree Seattle sunshine!

Amanda Pratt

I would much rather be doing this:

Kate Powers

Or this:

Oscar Falk

Or this:

Camilla Akrans

Le sigh... Can it please be summer in Seattle all the time?

I hope you all have a lovely weekend full of sunshine (and glamour!).

*swoon*
Paige

The Grasslands

Dagg & Stacey are really speaking my language!

Remember my post on safari dresses?

Take a look at this Out of Africa-inspired spring/summer collection by the fantastic, up-and-coming Canadian duo:


I think my favorite has to be the first one, the yellow dress, simply because of the little flower detail and because it has pockets! I love dresses and skirts with pockets.

What a fun word. Pocket.

Check out the rest of the collection here.

*swoon*
Paige

Vintage Vogue Photography

I found this photograph on The English Muse. Such a beaut'!


Love the ballet-inspired pointed toes! Make me want to dance!

*swoon*
Paige

Brush Your Shoulders Off

It is absolutely gorgeous in Seattle right this minute and it's supposed to stay this way for awhile.

On top of it all, I have a four day weekend full of exciting events: the baby-naming ceremony for The Boyfriend's brand new niece, The Boyfriend's grandmother's 90th birthday bash, canoeing in the Arboretum, puppy-sitting, a colleague's performance at the Northwest Folklife Festival, Happy Hours, and friends visiting from out of town!

Perhaps a beach trip is in order, complete with bikini... or at least some off-the-shoulder blouse action!



I love the combo/contrast of the thick pearls with the longer necklace!

Have a wonderful weekend!

*swoon*
Paige

Eugenio Recuenco

Most of his work airs on the creepy side, but Eugenio Recuenco's photography is really something to check out. One collection that really caught my eye included the photograph below on the left, capturing the art deco era, and imitating Tamara de Limpicka's famous painting, Girl in a Green Dress.


Another favorite of mine is his portrayal of The Princess and the Pea and other fairytale characters:


And I love the lighting of this one, but it makes me laugh a little:

"OMG. I'm looking through files. This is so dramatic!"

I guess it makes more sense when you see the entire collection and realize she's a glamorous detective. Too bad we can't all be pieces of art, fairy princesses, and Nancy Drews...

*swoon*
Paige

LookBook

Have you checked out LOOKBOOK? My friend, Sarah, of love all this (the one who recently got engaged!) reminded me of it when she posted a photo from its great archives.

It's a fantastic source to see what real people are doing with their clothing and style (the site's slogan is "collective fashion consciousness"). Some of it is very emo/hipster/look-at-me/MySpace-ish, but most of it is very, very cool. I could spend hours on this site looking at the various outfits people have put together. One of the coolest aspects about the site is that LookBook users are from all over the world and are all different ages. It's interesting to see various trends and how they're carried out in different countries. Most are in the teens-to-twenty-something range, and I find it funny how some of the youngest people on the site look the oldest, and the oldest look the youngest. I'm also amazed by how hip some of these middle schoolers are! I know I definitely didn't look that mature when I was twelve. (Ahem, I still look seventeen...)

I'm going to share some of my favorite looks here, but you really have to check out the site on your own because there are so many to look at! It really goes to show that clothing is just wearable art. Seriously, take a look.

in the highest

Oh dear! (I love the contrast of the preppy look and the massive ear gauges!)

Blue Jeans Tuesday

sweet love & fur

You never made it to the moon

dance, dance, dance (some of these girls are just so adorable!)

Nov. 3rd

blue. (this girl is absolutely adorable - she makes little sketches to match each of her outfits!)

I love a lot of aspects of street style (the color, texture, and pattern combinations), but don't generally carry it out in my day-to-day look. Unfortunately, it's not always so professional for the office...

I'm rarely insecure, but oh how I wish I were cool (or brave) enough to post on this site! Maybe if I were a little more judgmental... :)

*swoon*
Paige

Bedhead Brightened by Dresses

It's the end of the week and I am officially worn out. I'm sick in bed with a terribly rough sore throat and cough. Oh, and a scratchy man voice...

Let's just say I feel like this:

Carl Kleiner

But(!) I'm planning on resting all day today so I can have a fun weekend. The even worse news, however, is the weather...

Carl Kleiner

All that sunshine we had earlier in the week is officially gone, and the clouds have rolled in, creating a much darker sky than yesterday, even. The rain hasn't started yet, and I'm hoping it will stay far, far away.

On a different note, the image below is part of the above series by photographer Carl Kleiner, and I just couldn't leave it out because I love the texture of her dress:


It immediately reminded me of a slightly different (smaller) version in the J.Crew confetti wedding dress (they have the most stylish and affordable dresses!):

(click to enlarge)

Have a happy (and healthy!) weekend, everyone!

*swoon*

Paige

Heat It Up

As the days are slowly getting longer and the temperatures start to rise (just a little), I'm noticing more and more people staying out longer in the early evening hours. Getting back into their running routines, playing tether ball on the playground, walking around together carrying coffees. It makes me look forward to truly warmer weather when I can sit outside with a good book, go kayaking in my bathing suit, make real iced tea that brews in the sunshine, and go on hilltop hikes to watch the sun set (yes, even in stillettos!):

Bersa

What do you look forward to when the days warm up?

*swoon*
Paige

Good news!

I hope everyone's start of the week is going as well as can be! On Friday I posted that I hoped I would have good news to share today... and I do!

I had a post-cancer follow-up CT scan on Friday and the results are clean! No evidence of lymphoma! You can probably imagine how happy I am, especially after I thought I would get the results Friday evening but instead had to worry the entire weekend away (actually, that's not true; I simply tried not to think about it and actually had a very productive couple of days!).

In other news, former co-worker & friend, Melissa, has asked me to help her brainstorm for her wedding reception! Expect more posts on wedding inspiration in the coming weeks... so exciting!

It's a busy day for me today, but for now I'll leave you with this frilly bride (well, she may not be a bride, but I could totally see that outfit as a wedding dress!):

Bersa

Happy Monday!

*swoon*
Paige

TGIF...

I have a very busy (read: stressful) day ahead of me, so I'm probably only able to leave you with this striking image before the weekend. Stunning, isn't it?

Asaf Einy

Hopefully I'll have some good news to share with you on Monday!

Happy Friday/weekend!

*swoon*
Paige

Something Blue

No, we're not talking weddings. Instead I'm going to start the day off with this photograph by Brigitte Sire.


This totally reminds me of the boyfriend and I - I'm always over-dressed, and he's always completely casual (ha, except this picture is definitely up a few notches on the glamour scale!). I don't think I could pull of those hot pants, but that blue on her blouse is perfect! Come back later today for a little something on that blue...

*swoon*
Paige

365

I daydream a lot...

...of different projects I want to make.
...of what I could be "when I grow up" (although I'm starting to think this never actually happens).
...of new recipes I want to try.

I also make a lot of lists, oftentimes of the aforementioned things. These lists always have checkboxes next to each item. Being able to make the little ch-check! mark is like my little reward for completing a task (yes, I realize this is very, very silly).

One box, however, that I just cannot seem to check off is the infamous photo-a-day challenge. No matter how many times I have tried, I always end up missing a day. Or two. Or nine... (The realization I have forgotten is often accompanied by a firm smack of the forehead the next morning.)

Now, taking one picture a day doesn't seem like it would be too difficult; but taking time to create a nice, thoughtful composition is actually a real challenge when you are faced with other "more important" (pfft...) tasks throughout the day. Plus, good lighting is necessary, but that's simply not available at all hours of the day and may not be around when you're finally able to take your photo.

This conundrum is why I present to you the following fantastic photo-a-day projects, all of which seem very successful (some are in progress, while others are completed from a previous year).

The lovely and oh-so-creative self-portraiture of Jude Hathaway

Fellow Seattleite, Kate Sawyer

And here's another great collection, but, sadly, the photos wouldn't load properly (reminds me of when I was sixteen).

Someday I will check this box, I promise. And I never break my promises (even if they may take a bit longer to accomplish).

Have you ever tried to do this?

*swoon*
Paige

Untamed

I chopped all my hair off last July to prep for chemo, and it's finally coming in thick again. I can actually sort of straighten it and flip little bits out here and there. Even though it wasn't really my choice, having short hair was a nice style change (as my hair had always been very long), and it often proved to be very convenient and easy to style; however, I am so, so, so excited for my long hair to return. I'm going to have to remain patient for a while longer, but soon enough I will be able to toss it around again!

While we're waiting for my locks to grow back, take a look at these fun (and a little wild) hairstyles! Gimme volume!

Vogue UK

The Deja Vu (originally from Pop magazine)

Nagi Noda

London College of Fashion

Hair or otherwise, have you ever made (or been forced to make) a drastically different style change (i.e. "I'm going to get a cute bob" vs. "I got gum stuck in my hair so I had to cut it into this [cute] bob")? Please share your story!

On a slightly different hair note, I mentioned the other day in my daily routine some hair products I like to use (I forgot to mention I'm head-over-heels for Aveda Rosemary Mint Shampoo & Conditioner - the mondo economy size with the convenient hand pump!). What do you use on a regular basis? What is your favorite?

*swoon*
Paige